APL welcomes compliance on SC ruling in extra judicial killing in Karachi

(LONDON 14 June ) APL (Association of Pakistani Lawyers), a team of Pakistani origin lawyers, Solicitors, Barristers, and Judges in UK has welcomed compliance of Supreme Court ruling in the extra judicial killing of a civilian (Sarfraz Shah) at the hands of law enforcement officials in Karachi. APL has declared it a step towards right direction which inadvertently will promote rule of law and respect for superior court decisions as SC earlier took a suo moto notice and directed the Govt to remove DG Rangers and IG Sindh from their posts within 3 days.

APL affirmed that presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a court of law coupled with due process of law and fair trial is guaranteed & enshrined in the constitution of Pakistan 1973 and all those involved in any crime must be arrested, probed, and tried in accordance with the law of the land and must be punished after finding them guilty by a court of law. APL observed that this incident needed to be taken as a test case to promote rule of law and discourage summary execution(s), target killings, and arbitrary arrests and murders, and it is a good omen that commonsense prevailed. 

APL has praised the Civil administration and army hierarchy for not taking this case personal and allowing the flow of action on a court order which will pave way for a transparent accountability in all ranks and file in Pakistan, and will earn timely respect and trust for both civil dispensation and military institution which is a dire need at this moment.   

APL has further demanded that those involved in this killing must be brought to justice so that justice is seen to be done in the letter and spirit of the law, only than perpetuity of action may be claimed.

Signed By Chair & Secretary

Barrister Amjad Malik Of Association of Pakistani Lawyers (UK)